At less than $15, these things are great stocking
stuffers, groomsman gifts, or just a little something to
which you treat yourself.

But don't let that small price tag fool you:
Zippo hand warmers have been keeping people cozy for years,
and they're built to last for
a lifetime.

I'll admit that the first time I slipped my Zippo Hand Warmer
into my pocket, I was a bit uneasy. After all, I had just filled
the thing with lighter fluid, put a flame to its burner, and then
tucked the slender stainless steel unit into a pouch. In
general, as I recalled, one was supposed to avoid putting things
that were on fire into cloth pouches, and one was certainly
advised against putting things that were on fire into pants
pockets, right?

Well, yes, that is right. But here's the thing: Though it uses
the exact same lighter fluid as you pour into a regular Zippo
lighter (aka light petroleum distillate, if we're being specific)
and lights with a source of fire, the Zippo hand warmer is not
actually on fire. Not in the traditional sense, anyway.

The unit uses a catalytic burner that creates heat without an
actual flame. And thanks to the open space around the burner and
the ventilation holes that perforate the upper half of the
warmer, it can draw enough oxygen to keep on burning even when
tucked into its pouch and then cupped in your hands or slipped
into a pocket.

In fact, a Zippo hand warmer can burn steadily for anywhere
between six and twelve hours, providing you with a long-lasting
source of warmth perfect for cradling in your hands to keep your
fingers warm and dexterous or in a pocket, helping to keep your
core a bit more toasty.

How warm does it get? Well, if you have ever
used one of those disposable hand warmer packets — the ones that
heat up when exposed to air — it gets a bit more than twice as
warm as they do. The metal won't be hot enough to scorch you, but
it can be a bit less than comfortable when it touches bare skin.
That's why you use the pouch. Through that layer of cloth, you
could hold a Zippo hand warmer for hours on end without issue.

If you want to see more from Insider Picks, we're collecting emails for an upcoming newsletter. You'll be the first to hear about the stuff we cover. Click here to sign up .

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Business Insider's Insider Picks team. We aim to highlight products and services you might find interesting, and if you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback.
Have something you think we should know about? Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.